Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan and team gets a tour of the site

A new treatment plant for Sheet Anchor Berbice, funded by the Inter- American Development Bank (IDB) and the European Union (EU) is on schedule to be completed by mid-2019.

This project is one of the components of a larger project for which a US$31.6M loan was signed in 2014 by the government and the IDB for a Water Supply and Sanitation Infrastructure Improvement Programme.

The main objective of the project is to improve efficiency, quality and sustainability of the potable water services and better sanitation infrastructure in Georgetown and several areas along the coast.

To date, works on the Sheet Anchor plant which commenced in June is 34 per cent complete with some works two weeks ahead of schedule.

The project monitoring committee which comprises of representatives from the IDB, Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), the Ministry of Communities and Ministry of Finance today visited the site and assessed the works being done.

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan said he was satisfied with the works carried out to date.

“It’s always nice to get out of your office and see what’s happening on the ground and I’m satisfied with what I’m seeing. From what we have heard and see, this project is proceeding in terms of the schedule and timetable and there is no danger that there will be slippage with the deadline which is the third quarter in 2019.”

Minister Bulkan stressed that reducing non-revenue water losses is the most significant aspect of the project since millions have been lost in that regard.

Providing an update of the physical works of the project, Project Manager for Hydroplan, Richard Persaud explained that currently, the fencing for the project is complete.

He outlined that works are ongoing on the sedimentation tank where the base slab has been poured. The excavation and backfilling for the first and second ground storage tanks have been completed and the blinding concrete poured for one tank.

Persaud highlighted that the plan includes bringing the water from the three wells which currently serve the area to the treatment plant via pipelines, strengthening of the distribution system to distribute the water to the surrounding communities, extending the system to serve those areas that were served by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and delivering water via variable speed pumps.

“There is no staff shortage to date… At the end of the year, all concrete works for structures will be completed. During next year the equipment and pumps will be installed,” Persaud assured.

The four components of the overall project are the construction of new water treatment plants at Sheet Anchor, Diamond East Bank Demerara and Uitvlugt West Coast Demerara and rehabilitation and expansion of the Shelter Belt water treatment plant; reducing non-revenue water losses through metering and establishment of district meter zones in the programme areas; institutional strengthening of GWI and conversion of existing pit latrines to septic tanks for 1,000 beneficiaries.

IDB’s Country Representative, Sophie Makonnen is also pleased with what the work completed so far. “It’s very refreshing to see that things are going as per planned, the output is potable and quality water for the surrounding communities.” GWI’s Managing Director, Dr. Richards Van West-Charles and Planning and Implementation Director, Ramchand Jailall were also part of the site visit.